A TEENAGER who fell out with his parents because they wanted him to enter into an arranged marriage downed vodka and led police on a high speed car chase across Bradford.

Junaid Akram was today spared jail, but told he came "within a whisker of going to prison".

The 19-year-old, had never before drunk alcohol and was nearing twice the legal limit when he sped along Manningham Lane in his cousin's Ford Fiesta.

Akram, of Paley Road, East Bowling, Bradford, jumped red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road and narrowly avoided a collision as he was pursued along Bowland Street, Lumb Lane, St Pauls Road and Parsons Road.

Prosecutor John Bull told Bradford Crown Court Akram almost turned the car over when he hit some bushes.

The pursuit continued until the teenager lost control of the vehicle after crashing into a wall on Park Road.

He fled on foot but was apprehended and found to have 60 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Akram pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving over the prescribed limit on February 7.

His barrister, Gillian Betts, said he was from a very respectable family and had no previous convictions. He worked in his father's mobile phone shop but fell out with his parents because they wanted him to have an arranged marriage.

Akram downed three miniature bottles of vodka that night to numb the pain of the situation.

He had passed a driving test , showing a responsible attitude towards driving.

Miss Batts said Akram fled from the police because he had been drinking.

His probation officer found he had "a responsible and insightful attitude" to his offending. He had lost his good character and gained a criminal record.

Recorder Paul Reid told Akram: "You have come within a whisker of going to prison."

He said the offences were "a direct attack on the community" because people were put in danger.

"Your behaviour that night was utterly disgraceful," he added.

Akram knew he was unfit to drive and panicked when he saw the police.

He jumped red lights, drove erratically, went 50mph in a 30 zone and almost hit an oncoming car. But he had since shown considerable remorse and some maturity, the court heard.

"This night's appalling behaviour will stay with you for a very long time," Recorder Reid said.

He sentenced Akram to four months in a young offender institution, suspended for 18 months, with 250 hours of unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for two years.